Newswise — SEATTLE – (July 10, 2013) – Virginia Mason Medical Center has been named one of the Most Wired health systems in the nation for the second consecutive year by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. Virginia Mason is again the only Seattle hospital and one of only 289 in the U.S. to make this year’s list. The 15th annual Most Wired award, announced today, recognizes organizations considered frontrunners in leveraging information technology (IT) to advance clinical decision support and improve patient care and safety.

“This recognition is a testament to the pursuit of excellence that distinguishes teams across our organization supporting IT solutions that make health care better, safer, faster, less expensive and more accessible,” said Bill Poppy, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Virginia Mason.

“Information technology touches every part of the patient experience, from scheduling appointments to administering medications,” he added. “As an organization, we are proud to be among the leaders in using IT solutions to transform health care.”

Virginia Mason’s achievements in clinical information technology include a computerized physician order entry system, an integrated inpatient and outpatient electronic health record, a barcode system to mistake-proof medication administration, electronic imaging of paper records and a secure patient Web portal, called MyVirginiaMason, for which about 60,000 individuals have enrolled. Using this 24-hour online resource, patients can view lab results, renew prescriptions and access a summary of their medications, allergies, immunizations and medical issues.

“This year’s Most Wired organizations exemplify progress through innovation,” said Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association. “The hospital field can learn from these outstanding organizations ways that IT can improve efficiency.”

About Virginia Mason Medical CenterVirginia Mason Medical Center, founded in 1920, is a nonprofit regional health care system in Seattle that serves the Pacific Northwest. Virginia Mason employs more than 5,300 people and includes a 336-bed acute-care hospital; a primary and specialty care group practice of more than 460 physicians; satellite locations throughout the Puget Sound area; and Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled-nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the U.S. designed and built specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS. Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason is internationally recognized for its breakthrough autoimmune disease research. Virginia Mason was the first health system to apply lean manufacturing principles to health care delivery to eliminate waste and improve quality and patient safety.

To learn more about Virginia Mason Medical Center, please visit Facebook.com/VMcares or follow @VirginiaMason on Twitter. To learn how Virginia Mason is transforming health care and to join the conversation, visit our blog at VirginiaMasonBlog.org.

Media Contact: Gale RobinetteVirginia Mason Media Relations (206) 341-1509[email protected]

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